Top Fillies Meet in Oaks

Barring a dead-heat, one of California’s top 3-year-old fillies will no longer be undefeated after today’s $300,000 Santa Anita Oaks.

Halfbridled, the 2-year-old filly champion, will make her first start of 2004 in search of her fifth consecutive win, and A.P. Adventure, who has two stakes victories this year, will try for her fourth consecutive victory in the Grade I.

Trainer Richard Mandella wasn’t satisfied with Halfbridled’s training heading into last month’s Las Virgenes and delayed her comeback, but the daughter of Unbridled has trained well of late and will break from the rail in the field of eight going 1 1/16 miles.

Gary Stevens will ride Halfbridled for the first time.

The field also has Salty Romance, Miss Coronado, Silent Sighs, Hollywood Story, Vencedora Amiga and Stellar Jayne.

Race of the day: Seattle Borders, who won the Baldwin Stakes at Santa Anita in his first start for owner Ed Gann and trainer Bobby Frankel, is among 10 3-year-olds scheduled to go 1 1/16 miles in today’s $200,000 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields.

One for the road: Chapel Royal looks like the controlling speed in the $150,000 Swale Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Exotically speaking: A pick four using Dynalook, Committed Actress, Hispaniola and Redmeansgo in the seventh, Halfbridled, A.P. Adventure and Silent Sighs in the eighth, Bucanero Gris, Fade To Blue-Haasil and Panoramic in the ninth and Healthy Addiction in the 10th.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 4/169. Money: Previous day/meet total: $17/$899.40. Total money bet: $976.